Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director awarded Massachusetts General Hospital $1,061,520 under the Research Infrastructure Programs (CFDA 93.351) to procure a VisualSonics VEVO F2 LAZR-X20 photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system. The award, obligated on May 1, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2027, supports the acquisition of this next-generation multi-modal imaging equipment to replace the institution's obsolete VEVO 2100 LAZR system. The new imaging system will serve 17 active users across multiple MGH departments, including the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Neurosurgery, Cardiovascular Research Center, and the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging.

The instrument will enable non-invasive, high-resolution longitudinal investigation of anatomical and functional changes associated with disease progression and therapeutic response monitoring across diverse research applications. Supported research domains include cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological pathologies, brain function abnormalities, and antibiotic-resistant infections. MGH will establish an internal advisory committee to ensure operational continuity, training, maintenance, and compliance, supported by institutional and departmental commitments to core staff and technical support. This acquisition addresses a critical gap, as no other accessible photoacoustic imaging system in the region permits animal transport for the institution's specified research applications.